US20100020920A1 - X-ray system and method for tomosynthetic scanning - Google Patents
X-ray system and method for tomosynthetic scanning Download PDFInfo
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- US20100020920A1 US20100020920A1 US12/442,599 US44259907A US2010020920A1 US 20100020920 A1 US20100020920 A1 US 20100020920A1 US 44259907 A US44259907 A US 44259907A US 2010020920 A1 US2010020920 A1 US 2010020920A1
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 24
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 68
- 230000002238 attenuated effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract 3
- 210000000481 breast Anatomy 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000009607 mammography Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000001678 irradiating effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000002591 computed tomography Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000002123 temporal effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004091 panning Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000003384 imaging method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 0 *C1CCCC1 Chemical compound *C1CCCC1 0.000 description 1
- 238000002083 X-ray spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
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- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N23/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
- G01N23/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material
- G01N23/04—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material
- G01N23/046—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]
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- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
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- A61B6/02—Arrangements for diagnosis sequentially in different planes; Stereoscopic radiation diagnosis
- A61B6/025—Tomosynthesis
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
- A61B6/02—Arrangements for diagnosis sequentially in different planes; Stereoscopic radiation diagnosis
- A61B6/03—Computed tomography [CT]
- A61B6/032—Transmission computed tomography [CT]
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
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- A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
- A61B6/40—Arrangements for generating radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
- A61B6/4007—Arrangements for generating radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis characterised by using a plurality of source units
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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- A61B6/40—Arrangements for generating radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
- A61B6/4021—Arrangements for generating radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis involving movement of the focal spot
- A61B6/4028—Arrangements for generating radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis involving movement of the focal spot resulting in acquisition of views from substantially different positions, e.g. EBCT
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- A61B6/48—Diagnostic techniques
- A61B6/482—Diagnostic techniques involving multiple energy imaging
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- A61B6/4208—Arrangements for detecting radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis characterised by using a particular type of detector
- A61B6/4241—Arrangements for detecting radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis characterised by using a particular type of detector using energy resolving detectors, e.g. photon counting
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Definitions
- the invention concerns an x-ray system and a method for tomosynthetic scanning of a subject.
- CT computed tomography
- an x-ray tube and its opposite detector orbit a patient as an examination subject in order to generate slice exposures of the patient
- An entire 3D volume is subsequently reconstructed from the slice exposures.
- a distinctly less complicated 3D imaging method is digital tomosynthesis, which is in particular developed in connection with mammography.
- an x-ray source is hereby panned around an examination subject as a center of the movement only within a limited angle range, for example ⁇ 20° starting from a middle position.
- An x-ray detector to receive the x-rays hereby remains essentially stationary, i.e. actually stationary, or it is only slightly tilted, for example in order to follow the rotating x-ray tube at least according to the radiation angle.
- the production of a plurality of x-ray images from respective different angles within the angle region to be panned is designated as tomosynthetic scanning.
- tomosynthesis should be an optimally cost-effective and uncomplicated method, distinctly simpler (and therefore less resilient) x-ray tubes are hereby used (for example in comparison to CT).
- the resolution speed of the x-ray tubes is thus limited, and a 50° tomosynthetic scan (i.e. panning of the x-ray tube in an angle range of 50°) for the generation of the multiple x-ray images or projection exposures from various viewing directions today takes between ten seconds and one minute.
- a technique known as the dual energy method is also known, in which the subject is exposed twice from each viewing (irradiation) direction with x-ray radiation of two different energies. It is known to execute either two complete scans with a respective energy (i.e. to switch the energy level of the x-ray tube between the two scans) or to execute a single scan and respectively switch the x-ray tube between the two energies in each angle position (i.e. for each projection exposure). The latter also entails a large stress for the x-ray tube (for example in mechanical terms) since both the beam generator and the pre-filtering (swiveling mechanical filter) are switched between two beam qualities.
- the scan speed today is normally limited by the x-ray tube since (for example) detectors with fast readout capability (for example 30 images per sec) are used.
- detectors with fast readout capability for example 30 images per sec
- thermal problems arise from the need to transport of the heat away from the anode of the x-ray tube since there less than 1% of the supplied energy is converted into x-ray radiation and more than 99% is converted into heat.
- CT with a focal diameter of 1 mm on the anode
- due to the higher resolution mammography operates with a 0.3 mm focus, for example, which results in a significantly higher energy density and therefore distinctly greater thermal problems in the x-ray tube.
- An object of the present invention is to provide an improved x-ray system and an improved method for tomosynthetic scanning.
- the object is achieved by an x-ray system for tomosynthetic scanning of a subject with an x-ray source unit which emits x-ray radiation for radioscopy of the subject and is panned relative to the subject during the tomosynthetic scanning.
- the x-ray system has a 2D x-ray detector to acquire the x-ray radiation, which 2D x-ray detector is essentially stationary relative to the subject during the tomosynthetic scan.
- the x-ray source unit has at least two x-ray sources which are arranged in parallel toward the subject with regard to their beam directions and that can be excited independent of one another. The radiation sources are thus arranged so that they emit x-rays toward the subject and toward the 2D x-ray detector on different beam paths which intersect in the region of the subject or of the 2D x-ray detector.
- the radiation sources can be triggered independent of one another, these can be triggered in temporal succession. Due to the corresponding alternating triggering, the thermal load for every single radiation source is halved with the same radiation power or, respectively, image rate of the x-ray system.
- each radiation source must emit only a portion of the x-ray radiation (for example half given two radiation sources) relative to a conventional tomosynthetic x-ray system with one radiation source.
- a thermal unloading of the respective radiation source thus results given an overall equivalent radiation power of the x-ray system, or a correspondingly multiplied beam power of the x-ray system results given the same thermal load of the radiation sources.
- the radiation sources can be arranged in a common housing of the x-ray source. All radiation sources can then be panned uniformly or, respectively, simultaneous around the subject as before for the tomosynthetic scan.
- the design expenditure and the design itself of previous x-ray systems hardly changes, namely only in relation to the inner components of the housing of the x-ray source.
- the x-ray tubes or radiation sources are pulsed (in activated) alternation.
- the radiation sources can be arranged in a single x-ray tube.
- Known x-ray systems are hereby particularly simple to retrofit in x-ray systems according to the invention; the power circuits only need to be designed for a single x-ray tube, even in an x-ray system according to the invention.
- anodes for different radiation sources can be contained in the x-ray tube.
- a separate anode with a respective single focal spot can thus exist for each radiation source.
- the anodes can hereby already be respectively, specially designed for a specific type of x-ray radiation; for example, both radiation sources can be fashioned for respectively different x-ray spectra.
- different radiation sources can also be arranged as different focal spots on a single anode.
- a corresponding x-ray tube with a single anode is simpler and less costly to execute.
- each radiation source can be permanently set to a specific energy level of the x-ray power.
- the single radiation source thus does not need to be continuously switched between different energies. This means significantly less stress for the radiation sources.
- both radiation sources can even be simultaneously excited, and two x-ray images projection exposures with different beam energy can respectively be acquired simultaneously by the detector.
- the scan time for a dual energy tomosynthetic scan is hereby distinctly reduced.
- the x-ray source is panned in specifically defined angle increments relative to the subject, and an x-ray image is generated at every angle increment.
- the distance between two radiation sources can be selected so that it corresponds to the angle increment or, respectively, a multiple of this.
- two projection exposures for the tomosynthetic scan can be generated from one position of the x-ray source. Only the x-ray source must then be displaced again by one or more angle increments. If the radiation sources are offset by a single angle increment, for example, the x-ray source is subsequently offset by double the angle increment and two x-ray exposures are again generated by the different radiation sources at an interval of a single angle increment.
- the step count for the panning of the x-ray source is thus distinctly reduced relative to a known x-ray system.
- the offset between the sources can also be half of an angle increment, for example, or, respectively, be executed alternating, for example by one half, then by two, then again by half an angle increment etc.
- a continuous movement and time-offset pulsing of the radiation sources to realize different scans i.e. angles for the production of an x-ray image
- the radiation sources are thus pulsed in order to send x-ray radiation at the desired angle position and thus to generate a projection exposure.
- the x-ray source is panned over a whole angle range (for example 50°) relative to the subject.
- a whole angle range for example 50°
- two radiation sources can be arranged so that their interval (the angle between the respective beam axes) corresponds to approximately half of the angle range.
- the entire x-ray source must then be panned only half of the angle range to cover the entire angle region, wherein each radiation source respectively sweeps across half of the angle range (or somewhat more due to an overlap).
- the x-ray system according to the invention is in particular suitable as an x-ray system in a mammography system in which a breast of a patient is tomosynthetically scanned and is subsequently reconstructed in the framework of a tomosynthesis.
- the object is achieved via a method for tomosynthetic scanning of a subject in which x-ray radiation is emitted for radioscopy of a subject by an x-ray source, wherein the x-ray source is panned relative to the subject during the tomosynthetic scan.
- the x-ray radiation is received by an x-ray detector that is essentially stationary relative to the x-ray source.
- the x-ray radiation is emitted by at least two radiation sources in the x-ray source, which radiation sources can be excited independent of one another and are arranged in parallel with regard to their beam directions towards the subject.
- FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an x-ray system for tomosynthetic scanning in mammography, with an x-ray source unit having two x-ray sources in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an alternative x-ray system in accordance with the present invention, with two separate x-ray units each having one radiation source.
- FIG. 1 shows an x-ray system 2 for tomosynthetic scanning of a female breast 6 fixed in a retention device 4 .
- the x-ray system 2 comprises an x-ray source 8 and a 2D flat panel detector 10 to acquire 2D x-ray images 12 .
- the flat panel detector 10 moreover serves as a first compression plate of the retention device 4 which comprises a second compression plate 14 , between which flat panel detector 10 and compression plate 14 the breast 6 is compressed in the direction of the double arrow 16 .
- the x-ray source 8 comprises two radiation sources 18 a,b which respectively emit x-ray radiation 20 in the direction of a center beam axis 22 a,b .
- the center beam axes 22 a,b intersect at a point of a pivot axis 24 runs perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 1 , and therefore inside the breast 6 , parallel to the flat panel detector 10 or, respectively, the compression plate 14 .
- the entire x-ray source 8 can also be panned on this pivot axis 24 so that respective focus points 26 a,b of the radiation sources 18 a,b run on a line 28 shaped like a circle segment.
- both focus points 26 a,b lie as two focal spots on a single anode 30 of an x-ray tube 32 (shown only schematically).
- a plurality of x-ray images 12 of this must be generated first. This occurs in the tomosynthetic scan in that x-ray radiation 20 is respectively sent out along one of the projection lines or, respectively, directions P 1 through P 15 towards the flat panel detector 10 , and an x-ray image 12 (thus a projection exposure) is generated for each of these projection directions. All projection lines P 1 -P 15 are hereby respectively offset by 5° relative to the pivot axis 24 so that, given 15 projection lines, overall a panning range 27 of the x-ray images 12 of 70° results. The respective angle increment 25 for two projection exposures is thus 5° in FIG. 1 .
- the mammography in FIG. 1 now ensues such that the x-ray source 8 covers the projection lines P 1 and P 2 through the two focus points 26 a,b in the shown position and emits x-ray radiation 20 along these, thus along their center beam axes 22 a,b in order to generate two x-ray images 12 one after another in temporal succession.
- the entire x-ray source 8 is subsequently panned in the direction of the arrow 34 (thus by two angle increments—thus 10°—around the pivot axis 24 in the scan or, respectively, tomosynthetic scan direction) so that the focus points 26 a,b come to lie on the projection lines P 3 and P 4 .
- the radiation sources 18 a,b are in turn excited in temporal succession from this position in order to generate two additional x-ray images 12 . This process is repeated until the focus point 26 b has reached the projection line P 15 in order to generate the fifteenth (and thus last) x-ray image 12 .
- a continuous movement of the radiation sources 18 a,b is also possible, wherein these are then pulsed at the projection lines P 1-15 (thus while passing them; pulse-shaped x-ray radiation 20 is thus generated.
- FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of an x-ray system 2 in which both radiation sources 18 a,b are mounted in a respective separate x-ray source 8 .
- One x-ray tube 32 is thus located in each x-ray source 8 .
- the radiation sources 18 a,b are spaced significantly farther apart from one another with regard to their central beam axes 22 a,b . Namely, overall these encompass an angle of second angle increments, thus 35°.
- the central beam axis 22 a with the projection line P 1 and the central beam axis 22 b with the projection line P 8 therefore coincide.
- the relative angle between two central beam axes 22 a,b is hard-set (as in FIG. 1 ) and thus is not variable during the tomosynthetic scan, for example by installing the two x-ray sources on a common pivot arm (not shown).
- the radiation sources 18 a,b are also initially excited in temporal succession, whereby two x-ray images 12 are created.
- the two x-ray sources 9 are subsequently synchronously panned, but only by one angle increment (thus 5°), thus half as far as in FIG. 1 .
- the central beam axes 22 a,b then coincide with the projection lines P 2 and P 9 .
- Two x-ray images 12 are now generated again, and the corresponding procedure is repeated until the radiation source 18 b again lies on the projection line P 15 .
- each x-ray source 87 must thus be panned only by 35°, thus half of the total angle range of 70° between the projection lines P 1 and P 15 .
- the radiation sources 18 a,b can be designed separately according to FIG. 2 .
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Abstract
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The invention concerns an x-ray system and a method for tomosynthetic scanning of a subject.
- 2. Description of the Prior Art
- 3D imaging methods increasingly assert themselves in medical technology. For example, computed tomography (CT), in which an x-ray tube and its opposite detector orbit a patient as an examination subject in order to generate slice exposures of the patient, is hereby a complicated and expensive method. An entire 3D volume is subsequently reconstructed from the slice exposures.
- A distinctly less complicated 3D imaging method is digital tomosynthesis, which is in particular developed in connection with mammography. In contrast to CT, an x-ray source is hereby panned around an examination subject as a center of the movement only within a limited angle range, for example ±20° starting from a middle position. An x-ray detector to receive the x-rays hereby remains essentially stationary, i.e. actually stationary, or it is only slightly tilted, for example in order to follow the rotating x-ray tube at least according to the radiation angle. The production of a plurality of x-ray images from respective different angles within the angle region to be panned is designated as tomosynthetic scanning.
- Since tomosynthesis should be an optimally cost-effective and uncomplicated method, distinctly simpler (and therefore less resilient) x-ray tubes are hereby used (for example in comparison to CT). The resolution speed of the x-ray tubes is thus limited, and a 50° tomosynthetic scan (i.e. panning of the x-ray tube in an angle range of 50°) for the generation of the multiple x-ray images or projection exposures from various viewing directions today takes between ten seconds and one minute.
- A technique known as the dual energy method is also known, in which the subject is exposed twice from each viewing (irradiation) direction with x-ray radiation of two different energies. It is known to execute either two complete scans with a respective energy (i.e. to switch the energy level of the x-ray tube between the two scans) or to execute a single scan and respectively switch the x-ray tube between the two energies in each angle position (i.e. for each projection exposure). The latter also entails a large stress for the x-ray tube (for example in mechanical terms) since both the beam generator and the pre-filtering (swiveling mechanical filter) are switched between two beam qualities.
- The scan speed today is normally limited by the x-ray tube since (for example) detectors with fast readout capability (for example 30 images per sec) are used. However, such high image rates can lead to thermal problems in the x-ray tube, not only in the anode but also in the cathode. The thermal problems arise from the need to transport of the heat away from the anode of the x-ray tube since there less than 1% of the supplied energy is converted into x-ray radiation and more than 99% is converted into heat. In contrast to CT with a focal diameter of 1 mm on the anode, due to the higher resolution mammography operates with a 0.3 mm focus, for example, which results in a significantly higher energy density and therefore distinctly greater thermal problems in the x-ray tube.
- An object of the present invention is to provide an improved x-ray system and an improved method for tomosynthetic scanning.
- The object is achieved by an x-ray system for tomosynthetic scanning of a subject with an x-ray source unit which emits x-ray radiation for radioscopy of the subject and is panned relative to the subject during the tomosynthetic scanning. The x-ray system has a 2D x-ray detector to acquire the x-ray radiation, which 2D x-ray detector is essentially stationary relative to the subject during the tomosynthetic scan. According to the invention, the x-ray source unit has at least two x-ray sources which are arranged in parallel toward the subject with regard to their beam directions and that can be excited independent of one another. The radiation sources are thus arranged so that they emit x-rays toward the subject and toward the 2D x-ray detector on different beam paths which intersect in the region of the subject or of the 2D x-ray detector.
- Since the radiation sources can be triggered independent of one another, these can be triggered in temporal succession. Due to the corresponding alternating triggering, the thermal load for every single radiation source is halved with the same radiation power or, respectively, image rate of the x-ray system.
- By the use of at least two radiation sources, for the same number of x-ray exposures or emission of the same x-ray dose during a tomosynthetic scan each radiation source must emit only a portion of the x-ray radiation (for example half given two radiation sources) relative to a conventional tomosynthetic x-ray system with one radiation source. The number of projections—thus x-ray exposures that can be generated in a given scan time during the tomosynthetic scan—increases. Therefore the scan speed (thus the time for the complete tomosynthetic scanning) can be distinctly reduced given a corresponding, sufficiently fast detector if the x-ray excitations were the critical time factor. Since each radiation source must emit less radiation, the thermal load of the radiation sources likewise drops relative to a single radiation source. The entire beam power of the x-ray system likewise increases with the number of sources.
- A thermal unloading of the respective radiation source thus results given an overall equivalent radiation power of the x-ray system, or a correspondingly multiplied beam power of the x-ray system results given the same thermal load of the radiation sources.
- The radiation sources can be arranged in a common housing of the x-ray source. All radiation sources can then be panned uniformly or, respectively, simultaneous around the subject as before for the tomosynthetic scan. The design expenditure and the design itself of previous x-ray systems hardly changes, namely only in relation to the inner components of the housing of the x-ray source. The x-ray tubes or radiation sources are pulsed (in activated) alternation.
- The radiation sources can be arranged in a single x-ray tube. Known x-ray systems are hereby particularly simple to retrofit in x-ray systems according to the invention; the power circuits only need to be designed for a single x-ray tube, even in an x-ray system according to the invention.
- In the case of a single x-ray tube with multiple radiation sources, various anodes for different radiation sources can be contained in the x-ray tube. For example, a separate anode with a respective single focal spot can thus exist for each radiation source. The anodes can hereby already be respectively, specially designed for a specific type of x-ray radiation; for example, both radiation sources can be fashioned for respectively different x-ray spectra.
- Alternatively, however, different radiation sources can also be arranged as different focal spots on a single anode. A corresponding x-ray tube with a single anode is simpler and less costly to execute.
- As already mentioned, different radiation sources can be configure to emit x-rays of different energies. To implement the dual energy method, each radiation source can be permanently set to a specific energy level of the x-ray power. The single radiation source thus does not need to be continuously switched between different energies. This means significantly less stress for the radiation sources. In connection with an energy-resolving detector, both radiation sources can even be simultaneously excited, and two x-ray images projection exposures with different beam energy can respectively be acquired simultaneously by the detector. The scan time for a dual energy tomosynthetic scan is hereby distinctly reduced. Naturally, as before a switching of the radiation sources over to one location is also conceivable so that one and the same projection acquisition is executed with different energies.
- During a tomosynthetic scan, the x-ray source is panned in specifically defined angle increments relative to the subject, and an x-ray image is generated at every angle increment. The distance between two radiation sources can be selected so that it corresponds to the angle increment or, respectively, a multiple of this. By exciting both radiation sources, two projection exposures for the tomosynthetic scan can be generated from one position of the x-ray source. Only the x-ray source must then be displaced again by one or more angle increments. If the radiation sources are offset by a single angle increment, for example, the x-ray source is subsequently offset by double the angle increment and two x-ray exposures are again generated by the different radiation sources at an interval of a single angle increment. The step count for the panning of the x-ray source is thus distinctly reduced relative to a known x-ray system.
- However, the offset between the sources can also be half of an angle increment, for example, or, respectively, be executed alternating, for example by one half, then by two, then again by half an angle increment etc. A continuous movement and time-offset pulsing of the radiation sources to realize different scans (i.e. angles for the production of an x-ray image) is conceivable. The radiation sources are thus pulsed in order to send x-ray radiation at the desired angle position and thus to generate a projection exposure.
- During the entire tomosynthetic scan, the x-ray source is panned over a whole angle range (for example 50°) relative to the subject. For example, two radiation sources can be arranged so that their interval (the angle between the respective beam axes) corresponds to approximately half of the angle range. The entire x-ray source must then be panned only half of the angle range to cover the entire angle region, wherein each radiation source respectively sweeps across half of the angle range (or somewhat more due to an overlap).
- The x-ray system according to the invention is in particular suitable as an x-ray system in a mammography system in which a breast of a patient is tomosynthetically scanned and is subsequently reconstructed in the framework of a tomosynthesis.
- With regard to the method, the object is achieved via a method for tomosynthetic scanning of a subject in which x-ray radiation is emitted for radioscopy of a subject by an x-ray source, wherein the x-ray source is panned relative to the subject during the tomosynthetic scan. During the tomosynthetic scan the x-ray radiation is received by an x-ray detector that is essentially stationary relative to the x-ray source. According to the invention, the x-ray radiation is emitted by at least two radiation sources in the x-ray source, which radiation sources can be excited independent of one another and are arranged in parallel with regard to their beam directions towards the subject.
- The method according to the invention and the advantages resulting from this were already explained in connection with the x-ray system according to the invention. Additional advantageous embodiments of the method were likewise already explained in connection with the x-ray system according to the invention.
-
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an x-ray system for tomosynthetic scanning in mammography, with an x-ray source unit having two x-ray sources in accordance with the present invention. -
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an alternative x-ray system in accordance with the present invention, with two separate x-ray units each having one radiation source. -
FIG. 1 shows anx-ray system 2 for tomosynthetic scanning of a female breast 6 fixed in a retention device 4. Thex-ray system 2 comprises anx-ray source 8 and a 2D flat panel detector 10 to acquire2D x-ray images 12. The flat panel detector 10 moreover serves as a first compression plate of the retention device 4 which comprises a second compression plate 14, between which flat panel detector 10 and compression plate 14 the breast 6 is compressed in the direction of the double arrow 16. - The
x-ray source 8 comprises tworadiation sources 18 a,b which respectively emit x-ray radiation 20 in the direction of acenter beam axis 22 a,b. The center beam axes 22 a,b intersect at a point of a pivot axis 24 runs perpendicular to the plane of the drawing inFIG. 1 , and therefore inside the breast 6, parallel to the flat panel detector 10 or, respectively, the compression plate 14. - The
entire x-ray source 8 can also be panned on this pivot axis 24 so that respective focus points 26 a,b of theradiation sources 18 a,b run on a line 28 shaped like a circle segment. InFIG. 1 , both focus points 26 a,b lie as two focal spots on a single anode 30 of an x-ray tube 32 (shown only schematically). - For tomosynthetic presentation of the breast 6, a plurality of
x-ray images 12 of this must be generated first. This occurs in the tomosynthetic scan in that x-ray radiation 20 is respectively sent out along one of the projection lines or, respectively, directions P1 through P15 towards the flat panel detector 10, and an x-ray image 12 (thus a projection exposure) is generated for each of these projection directions. All projection lines P1-P15 are hereby respectively offset by 5° relative to the pivot axis 24 so that, given 15 projection lines, overall a panning range 27 of thex-ray images 12 of 70° results. The respective angle increment 25 for two projection exposures is thus 5° inFIG. 1 . - The mammography in
FIG. 1 now ensues such that thex-ray source 8 covers the projection lines P1 and P2 through the two focus points 26 a,b in the shown position and emits x-ray radiation 20 along these, thus along their center beam axes 22 a,b in order to generate twox-ray images 12 one after another in temporal succession. Theentire x-ray source 8 is subsequently panned in the direction of the arrow 34 (thus by two angle increments—thus 10°—around the pivot axis 24 in the scan or, respectively, tomosynthetic scan direction) so that the focus points 26 a,b come to lie on the projection lines P3 and P4. The radiation sources 18 a,b are in turn excited in temporal succession from this position in order to generate twoadditional x-ray images 12. This process is repeated until the focus point 26 b has reached the projection line P15 in order to generate the fifteenth (and thus last)x-ray image 12. - Alternatively, a continuous movement of the
radiation sources 18 a,b is also possible, wherein these are then pulsed at the projection lines P1-15 (thus while passing them; pulse-shaped x-ray radiation 20 is thus generated. -
FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of anx-ray system 2 in which bothradiation sources 18 a,b are mounted in a respectiveseparate x-ray source 8. Onex-ray tube 32 is thus located in eachx-ray source 8. Relative toFIG. 1 , inFIG. 2 theradiation sources 18 a,b are spaced significantly farther apart from one another with regard to their central beam axes 22 a,b. Namely, overall these encompass an angle of second angle increments, thus 35°. In the situation presented inFIG. 2 , thecentral beam axis 22 a with the projection line P1 and thecentral beam axis 22 b with the projection line P8 therefore coincide. The relative angle between two central beam axes 22 a,b is hard-set (as inFIG. 1 ) and thus is not variable during the tomosynthetic scan, for example by installing the two x-ray sources on a common pivot arm (not shown). - In
FIG. 2 , theradiation sources 18 a,b are also initially excited in temporal succession, whereby twox-ray images 12 are created. The two x-ray sources 9 are subsequently synchronously panned, but only by one angle increment (thus 5°), thus half as far as inFIG. 1 . The central beam axes 22 a,b then coincide with the projection lines P2 and P9.Two x-ray images 12 are now generated again, and the corresponding procedure is repeated until theradiation source 18 b again lies on the projection line P15. In contrast toFIG. 1 , each x-ray source 87 must thus be panned only by 35°, thus half of the total angle range of 70° between the projection lines P1 and P15. - Alternatively, in
FIG. 1 theradiation sources 18 a,b can be designed separately according toFIG. 2 . - Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventor to embody within the patent warranted heron all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of his or her contribution to the art.
Claims (19)
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PCT/EP2007/060198 WO2008037731A2 (en) | 2006-09-29 | 2007-09-26 | X-ray system and method for tomosynthetic scanning |
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Also Published As
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WO2008037731A3 (en) | 2008-05-15 |
EP2069767B1 (en) | 2014-06-18 |
EP2069767A2 (en) | 2009-06-17 |
WO2008037731A2 (en) | 2008-04-03 |
DE102006046741A1 (en) | 2008-04-10 |
US7945014B2 (en) | 2011-05-17 |
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